Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 1 Registered provider: Leeds City Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 4 children with learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2024.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There were 3 children living at the home at the time of inspection and 2 children were spoken with.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/07/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children make significant progress because of the consistent and nurturing care they receive. Staff understand children's needs well and help them to develop confidence, independence and stronger relationships with people who are important to them. Children engage in education, improve their health and take part in everyday experiences that were previously difficult for them.

p.3

Summary of findings

Staff support children to take age-appropriate risks and manage distressed emotions effectively. One safeguarding concern was not addressed quickly enough and recording requires improvement. However, leaders maintain strong oversight, support staff development and work effectively with professionals to help children achieve positive outcomes and prepare for their futures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build trusting relationships with staff who understand their needs. Children, including those who are non-speaking, are supported to take part in complex decisions about their lives. One child has gained the confidence to speak with staff after not speaking for some time. This helps children to feel listened to and have greater control over decisions about their care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in education that reflects their individual needs. Children who previously could not tolerate education and had missed significant periods of learning, now attend regularly. One child has recently started college. Staff celebrate their attendance and ensure that preferred activities take place after education. This helps children to understand routine and structure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make excellent progress with their health and wellbeing. Children have improved their personal hygiene and achieved healthy weight loss. This helps children to take part in more activities and improves their quality of life. Staff have recently improved medication documentation and administer medication appropriately.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children thrive because staff provide consistent and thoughtful care. Children now take part in daily living tasks, including cleaning, shopping and eating in public places. These activities previously caused children significant distress. Children are becoming more confident and independent in everyday situations.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend more time with people who are important to them. Staff explore family relationships carefully and consider how these can develop safely. Families report stronger relationships with children since they moved into the home. This helps children to spend more time with loved ones safely. Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 4 Staff plan early for children moving on from the home. Staff work with professionals to understand children's wishes, identify suitable future living arrangements and begin planning at an early stage. This gives children time to understand and prepare for future changes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a home that reflects their individual needs. Staff continually adapt spaces to create a warm and welcoming environment. Children have identified safe spaces and respect each other's need to use them. This helps children to move confidently and independently around the home.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are skilled at helping children to explore age-appropriate risks safely. Staff support children to develop independence by reducing boundaries when risks reduce. One child now requires significantly less staff supervision. This gives children greater freedom and opportunities to take part in everyday activities.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children learn what positive behaviour looks like through restorative approaches. Staff help children to reflect on incidents and understand the effect of their actions. Children write apology cards and discuss incidents with staff. This helps children to develop positive ways to manage their emotions and behaviours.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond well when children become distressed. Staff use a wide range of de- escalation strategies, including safe spaces, distraction and giving children space. Staff rarely hold children. When children are held for their safety, records are clear and children and staff discuss incidents afterwards.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safeguarding concerns have not always been addressed quickly enough. Staff raised one allegation appropriately, but action was delayed. Managers responded appropriately when the concern was raised again. An investigation took place, learning was identified and staff practice was addressed. Although this meant that one child's concern was not explored promptly, staff are now more confident in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Recording is not always effectively maintained. Staff do not always update risk assessments promptly or record all actions they have taken to reduce risks. This has not reduced the quality of support that children receive. However, records do not always provide a clear account of staff's responses to risks.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that effective management arrangements are in place. The long-serving responsible individual is in the process of handing over to the new responsible individual. Despite several changes in management roles, contingency arrangements are maintaining stability and oversight. Children and staff benefit from a consistent approach to leadership. Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 5 Managers understand children's plans and drive progress towards important milestones. Professionals describe staff as 'aspirational' and 'fearless' in helping children to achieve positive outcomes. Managers monitor children's progress and can clearly demonstrate the difference that living in the home has made to children's progress and future opportunities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well together to provide consistency and stability for children. Roles and responsibilities are clear, and staff share ownership of practice. Staff are encouraged to suggest new ideas to improve care. This helps children to receive individualised care from staff who know them best.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work effectively with professionals and families. They maintain regular communication and advocate strongly for children's wishes and needs. This helps to ensure that children receive coordinated support and that decisions are made without unnecessary delay.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders are committed to developing staff's skills. Clear workforce development plans support learning and progression. Staff receive regular training that reflects the needs of children living in the home. Staff are encouraged to take on additional responsibilities with support and guidance. This helps children to receive care from a skilled and stable staff group.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Information is not always stored consistently. Records are not always filed as they should be, despite systems being available. This does not affect children. However, this means that information is not always easy to locate and review, and it inhibits effective management oversight. Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record when they assess the risks to each child and when they have conversations with children that assist staff to understand risks and manage children's risk-taking behaviour. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 42, paragraph 9.5 and page 9.7)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. In particular, by ensuring that staff remain confident in escalating and managing any safeguarding incidents. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 43, paragraph 9.12)  The registered person should ensure that records kept electronically are easily accessible by anyone with a legitimate need to view them. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 14.2)

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards'. Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Merrion House, Merion centre, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 8LX

p.7

Inspector

Vikki Thwaites, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2804278 8 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8